scholarly journals “Selected Papers from the 2nd Ellisras Longitudinal Study and Other Non-Communicable Diseases Studies International Conference” Special Issue Editorial

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Kotsedi Daniel Monyeki

Epidemics of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are presently emerging and on the increase in South Africa. It is increasingly recognized that the occurrence of adult chronic disease are influenced by factors operating from childhood, which are sustained throughout the individual’s life course. Increased risk may start in infancy or even before birth and will continue to be influenced by health related behavior during adulthood. The academic level of people in the community influence the level of their health status. Commitment to the promotion of health through prevention, education, and suitable management is the building block for creating a healthy society. The community must make strides to shift from traditional knowledge and medication, and seek new innovative ways of addressing issues facing the population with regard to obesity, overweight, hypertension health, smoking cessation, alcohol abuse, and low physical activity in line with a healthy living lifestyle. The NCDs pose health problems in South Africa and deserve more attention. Poor control of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, to name just a few, only adds to the current problems. The South African government and the business sector of South Africa should provide safe walking/riding trails in the cities and in rural area to combat emerging NCDs that are killing our community members indiscriminately without considering race, gender, age, and place of residence. Compulsory introduction of physical education lessons to all public schools cannot be over emphasized in the current escalating NCD situation in South Africa.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
WAASILA JASSAT ◽  
Cheryl Cohen ◽  
Maureen Masha ◽  
Susan Goldstein ◽  
Tendesayi Kufa-Chakezha ◽  
...  

Background: The interaction between COVID-19, non-communicable diseases, and chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are unclear, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in Africa. We investigated this interaction using a nationally representative hospital surveillance system in South Africa. Methods: A national surveillance system for laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions (DATCOV) was established. Using DATCOV data, we describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, and in-hospital mortality among individuals admitted to public and private hospitals with COVID-19 during 5 March to 11 August 2020. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare individuals who were HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected and determine the factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Findings: Hospital admissions peaked at 1,560 admissions per day, in late July. Among the 41,877 individuals admitted with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, 7,662 (18.3%) died. Comorbidities were documented in 27,555 (65.8%) individuals, most commonly observed were hypertension (36.8%), diabetes (29.6%), obesity (19.7%), and HIV (8.7%); TB was reported in 0.7% of individuals. Increased risk of in-hospital mortality was associated with HIV and TB, as well as other described risk factors for COVID-19, such as increasing age, male sex, non-White race (Black, mixed and Indian race), chronic underlying conditions particularly hypertension, diabetes and obesity. In addition, HIV-infected individuals with immunosuppression had increased risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio 2.2; 95% confidence interval 1.6-3.1). Among HIV-infected individuals, the prevalence of other comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes was 39.9%. The effect of multiple comorbidities on mortality was similar in HIV-infected and -uninfected individuals. Interpretation: These data provide a better understanding of the interaction of non-communicable diseases, chronic infectious diseases like HIV and TB and COVID-19. Increasing age and presence of chronic underlying comorbidities (particularly hypertension and diabetes) are important additional factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in a middle-income African setting and are common among HIV-infected individuals. HIV- and TB-infected individuals, particularly those with additional comorbidities, would benefit from COVID-19 prevention and treatment programmes.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e0209756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nompumelelo Precious Zungu ◽  
Musawenkosi Lionel Mabaso ◽  
Faith Kumalo ◽  
Salome Sigida ◽  
Lungelo Mlangeni ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwuedozie K. Ajaero ◽  
Nicole De Wet-Billings ◽  
Chiemezie Atama ◽  
Prince Agwu ◽  
Eberechukwu J. Eze

Abstract Background The socioeconomic conditions of different environments manifest in varying experiences of illnesses. Even as migrants do transit across these different environments for various reasons, including settlement, they are bound to have peculiar experiences of diseases, which could be traced to lifestyle, gender, adaptation, and reactions to specific social, economic, psychological and climatic conditions. Paying attention to such unique scenarios, our study examines the prevalence and contextual correlates of non-communicable diseases among inter-provincial migrants and non-migrants in South Africa. Methods Data was from the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), waves 5 of 2017, which comprised of 28,055 respondents aged 15–64 years made up of 22,849 inter-provincial non-migrants and 5206 inter-provincial migrants. A composite dependent/outcome variable of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was generated for the study and data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi Square analysis and multilevel logistic regression analysis. Results More migrants (19.81%) than non-migrants (16.69%) reported prevalence of NCDs. With the exception of household size for migrants and smoking for non-migrants, the prevalence of NCDs showed significant differences in all the community, behavioral, and individual variables. The factors in the full model, which significantly increased odds of NCDs among the migrants and the non-migrants, were older populations, the non-Blacks, and those with higher education levels. On the one hand, being married, having a household with 4–6 persons, and being residents of urban areas significantly increased odds of NCDs among the migrant population. While on the other, living in coastal provinces, being a female, and belonging to the category of those who earn more than 10,000 Rands were significantly associated with increased odds of NCDs among the non-migrants. Conclusions These findings, therefore, among other things underscore the need for increased education and awareness campaigns, especially among the older populations on the preventive and mitigative strategies for NCDs. In addition, changes in lifestyles with regard to smoking and physical exercises should be more emphasized in specific contextual situations for the migrant and non-migrant populations, as highlighted by the results of this study.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya ◽  
Karl Peltzer ◽  
Witness Chirinda ◽  
Alfred Musekiwa ◽  
Zamakayise Kose ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mohammad Rahanur Alam ◽  
Mohammad Asadul Habib ◽  
A. K. Obidul Huq ◽  
Sumaiya Mamun ◽  
Sompa Reza ◽  
...  

Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is rising in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Obesity is one of the significant risk factors for many non-communicable diseases. This research aimed to investigate the current prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in selected schools in Dhaka City through anthropometric evaluation, as well as to assess the correlation of various environmental determinants such as physical activity, dietary behavior, lifestyle habits, are associated with increased risk of obesity in children.Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 participants (50 male and 56 female participants) aged 6-14 years selected by convenience sampling from four randomly selected primary schools of different regions of Dhaka city. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-going children 24.5%, 68% respectively. Factors associated with being obese included type of game (χ2=34.036; p=0.001), total playtime (χ2=17.788; p=0.000), TV and computer watch time (χ2=27.321; p=0.007), spend money to buy fast food (χ2=26.451; p=0.002), eating days fast food in a week (χ2=24.825; p=0.003), type of tiffin (χ2=19.757; p=0.072).Conclusions: Less playtime, longer watching TV and computer, and eating more fast food are major risk factors for overweight and obesity among school-going children in Dhaka city. Interventions are needed to increase awareness of child overweight weight and obesity risk factors to decrease the prevalence of overweight and obesity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-511
Author(s):  
Sheikh Mohd Saleem ◽  
Chaitnya Aggarwal ◽  
Om Prakash Bera ◽  
Radhika Rana ◽  
Gurmandeep Singh ◽  
...  

"Geographic information system (GIS) collects various kinds of data based on the geographic relationship across space." Data in GIS is stored to visualize, analyze, and interpret geographic data to learn about an area, an ongoing project, site planning, business, health economics and health-related surveys and information. GIS has evolved from ancient disease maps to 3D digital maps and continues to grow even today. The visual-spatial mapping of the data has given us an insight into different diseases ranging from diarrhea, pneumonia to non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, or risk factors like obesity, being overweight, etc. All in a while, this information has highlighted health-related issues and knowledge about these in a contemporary manner worldwide. Researchers, scientists, and administrators use GIS for research project planning, execution, and disease management. Cases of diseases in a specific area or region, the number of hospitals, roads, waterways, and health catchment areas are examples of spatially referenced data that can be captured and easily presented using GIS. Currently, we are facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases, and a powerful tool like GIS can be used efficiently in such a situation. GIS can provide a powerful and robust framework for effectively monitoring and identifying the leading cause behind such diseases.  GIS, which provides a spatial viewpoint regarding the disease spectrum, pattern, and distribution, is of particular importance in this area and helps better understand disease transmission dynamics and spatial determinants. The use of GIS in public health will be a practical approach for surveillance, monitoring, planning, optimization, and service delivery of health resources to the people at large. The GIS platform can link environmental and spatial information with the disease itself, which makes it an asset in disease control progression all over the globe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Linda M. Mobula ◽  
David J. Heller ◽  
Yvonne Commodore-Mensah ◽  
Vanessa Walker Harris ◽  
Lisa A. Cooper

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated health disparities across ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - such as hypertension, diabetes, and obstructive lung diseases – are key drivers of this widening gap, because they disproportionately afflict vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations with non-communicable diseases, in turn, are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 itself – but also at increased risk of poor outcomes from those underlying conditions. Proven strategies for NCD control must be adapted to help vulnerable patients react to these dual threats. We detail six key policy interventions – task shifting, workforce protection, telehealth and mobile services, insurance restructuring and increased funding for NCDs, prescription policies for NCDs and community partnerships - to bridge this care gap. Long-term integration of these care models post-COVID-19 may prevent care shocks during future pandemics, bolstering emerging universal primary care models.


2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Wandai ◽  
J Aagaard-Hansen ◽  
C Day ◽  
B Sartorius ◽  
K J Hofman

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Neupane ◽  
Megan Henry ◽  
Di Zhao ◽  
Per Kallestrup ◽  
Bhagawan Koirala ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives High salt (sodium chloride) intake is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Current consumption of salt in Nepal is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate average salt intake in a Nepalese population from 24-hr urine collection in a population-based survey. Methods Participants (n = 499) were recruited from the Community-Based Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nepal (COBIN) cohort in the peri-urban area of Pokhara municipality from July to December 2018. The modified version of STEPS survey of non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors was administered. Salt intake was estimated from a single 24-hr urine collection. Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate differences in salt intake (g) associated with a variety of factors including demographics, lifestyle, health care, and health literacy. Results Mean (SD) age was 50.0 (9.7) years; mean salt intake was 13.0 (4.8) g/person/d. Male gender, younger age, and higher body mass index were significantly associated with higher salt intake (Table). Although 55% of respondents thought that they consumed just the right amount of salt, 96% were consuming more than the WHO-recommended level of less than 5 g/d. Almost half of the respondents reported that they consumed processed food containing high amounts of salt. In multivariate analyses, systolic blood pressure was 0.4 mmHg (95% CI: 0.05, 0.7) higher per 1-gram increase in salt intake. Conclusions Daily intake of salt in this Napalese population was over twice the WHO recommended upper limit, indicating a substantial need to reduce salt across the entire population. Community-based interventions for behavior modification through health education and dietary counseling may be effective in this population where salt is added during cooking. Still, interventions targeting the marketing, availability, and labeling of processed foods is also important, as intake of processed foods was also commonplace in Nepal. Funding Sources PHI through financial support from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA; Jayanti Memorial Trust (JMT), Nepal; Nepal Development Society (NEDS), Nepal. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs


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